The House Now...

It's definitely a different dynamic with a third - and a new baby at that. Eva has taken on the whole idea that if she's in trouble she'll run to Gabe, kiss him and say "I love Baby Gabe." It's not working-don't worry. She is a great big sister though. She's the first to rock him, get his binki or anything else. She always wants to see his face to see how he's reacting and can't give enough hugs to him. Chloe is working on being so grown up about the whole thing. "All he does is scream and sleep," she told her uncle. She's a big helper for me though - the more dependable errand runner of the two. She loves to hold him, and sing to him. She tries to talk about him with a grown up attitude... she certainly is feeling like an adult.
The one thing that is hard is sharing the attention. Chloe is extremely high maintenance, so she's feeling that the most I expect. We've created *again* mommy & me time. Chloe is very anal about her time with me... and is sure to get it every day. It's a good thing though, because I honestly forget and I feeel as though I've spent time with her already, until I think about it. Chloe keeps me all to herself with her 15 min and Eva doesn't care at all if Chloe jumps in to her 15 min. Today Chloe and I had massage time. I gave her a massge - something I haven't done in a year or so -officially. She almost fell asleep, it was so cute! Eva wanted one and then forgot about it. Gabe loved his massage today too. I started trying to read to the girls more one on one and talk to them more while I'm nursing...
New things, new techniques and new ideas. If you have suggestions, I'd love to read 'em.

Even in this digital age, I still have the thought to do baby announcements. Here's my question... where can I do them for like... LESS than 1.00/card? Any ideas? I've attached these pics I'm going to use for it... if I ever bite that bullet, but I'm having a hard time spending the money on a much needed nursing bra, let alone paper that people will do who-knows-what with.... Not to belittle the mail recipients, but I know things only stick around for so long. That's ok-that's the way things should be unless you're a collector of sorts. I'm really excited that these pics turned out so well. Maybe anything is possible with this Picasa program, eh? The next tackle is the family portrait and Christmas newsletters...

Thank You!

A big thank you to everyone who gave us flowers and balloons! They are beautiful and my goal is to keep them looking beautiful as long as possible.
Thanks especially to my mom who gave up some of her final weeks with her other grandkids in Ohio (before they move away) to help me in AZ with the arrival of Gabriel. She took a lot of care with watching kids, giving me encouragement in the first week home, and made delicious dinners! Let's not forget the stories, snuggles, and pink chocolate milk that the kids will not forget!

One Week old!

He's one week old now and has received the 'snip, snip' - Brian was the brave daddy to take him to that appt. I am getting better about it all, but it was nerve wrecking for me... He's sleeping 2-3 hours at a time, and is alert much more than even the last few days. The girls are able to hold him while he looks at them, and are wonderfully big helpers from sun up to sun down!

My happy tired mommy moments waiting for the hospitals ok to leave...Chloe was verrry tired of waiting, too.

Our little Boo!

He has Arrived!

Chloe is sure proud and sooo big now - a big sister 2x

Eva asked "Who's that?" She was really excited to finally see Baby Gabe!

Grandma and Baby Gabriel!

Gabriel in all his glory being 1 day old! Our little Tiger!
Weight: 7 lbs 15 ounces
Length: 20.6 inches
Time: 10.7.08, at 1105pm
Yes, he is now a real live part of our family! All I had to do was travel out of town 90 miles and I went into labor. Three hours later Brian was just getting off work, and I was just passing his exit. My mom was driving (luckily) and was able to drop me off at the medical center and Brian met me there minutes later. I was hooked up to monitors, but not having progressed at all besides the contractions, was signing my discharge papers when Brian and I decided to take our time leaving. We walked around for a little more than 15 minutes or so and were convinced something was happening and it wasn't an option to leave. An hour later I had progressed enough to admit, and was on the way to the getting the ever wonderful epidural! And, three hours or so after that Baby Gabe arrived in 2 pushes!
Of course this was the one evening that I'd actually had quite a bit planned - feeding the missionaries after getting my mom, a grocery trip, and a scripture study class I'd organized.... go figure!
I feel wonderfully blessed to be able to have a healthy baby boy, to have had a safe delivery, and a quick recovery! I know that angels were there to give me strength while he was growing, to help him arrive, and that they gave me strength that day. It was a miraculous experience for Brian and I. We are so grateful to have this little stud in our family!

Sisters....

God made us sisters, Our hearts made us friends. Love keeps us bonded Thru thick and thru thin.Being family Gives permanent ties, For which I am grateful To be in your life. Though our paths may lead Down separate roads ,God gave us each other To help with the load.God had a great plan, As He always does. Growing together Was the best for us.I can't imagineMy life without you. Sisters are for keepsAnd forever true.

Everythings falling but baby....

Here we were on the first day of fall... now no one say a word about my belly. I was actually super happy about this overall find because I had been looking for them. Huge, but comfy. And comfort is the key for all advanced preggies! We went for a nature walk at a local park for FHE and picked up a lot of leaves and nuts. It was fun...

OOO ya chica chica!

This is a pic of the craft the kids did in joy school - they made fruit loop necklaces with their bodies (fingers). The months lessons were all geared toward the joy of our bodies. We learned our five senses and applied them with nature walks, smelling collages, tasting tests and all sorts of other things. It was pretty fun, and Eva really picked up on a lot! She learned about her brain, and esophagus mostly because we ate and thought a lot. This pic is just too perfect for Chloe. And notice the shirt - Nana? It's one of her favs! We'll see what they make this month in joy school!

The Richter Report..

There has been quite a bit of things going on the last week. My mom came into town Tuesday, the girls have been doing Joy School at another 'teachers' house, and today they had another dance class. They're also trying to get sleep in one way or another... or is that 'I'm trying to get them'. We haven't had any catastrophies this week, and the weather is cooling down.
B is really working hard at work, and trying to keep his sanity as his phone rings... He's got it worked out to be home after the baby comes for 10 days - working half days on the network. (sweet, huh?) He'll start school again soon - 1 class for the moment.
Yes - we watched the 29th come and go. For those who don't have my kids birthdays down as much as I do (lol) and have other life to worry about, my two girls both have birthdays coincidentally on the 29th. I was hoping for a 3rd 29th-er! You can't have it all, I suppose. I'll just be happy to see a healthy baby, be done with the *darned* doctors, and be able to go to the temple again without having my legs go absolutely crazy. There's some work to be done and I've had enough of a break!
Tomorrow is General Conference for us. We get to hear the prophets speak to us right from the TV 2 times a year, and this is one of them. The kids really like it- I think they feel the love from the apostles just from listening and watching them. I know I love hearing them talk, too!
That's the upshot for us right now!

Two Birds and an Angry Preggy

Well, our family has GOT it... so steer clear of our house. This is the flu. The nasty, nasty GI bug that's apparently sweeping through Kingman right now. It has no pre-puke symptoms except lack of appetite and energy. Although, if any of you have little kids, the lack of energy comes quite obviously but after the first puke, they (of course) think they're better and start running around like yahoo-ligans. Eva got sick just as we were ready to go out to eat even though a babysitter didn't pan out for tonight. Then, Chloe got sick as Eva was getting out of the tub. At least they can be quiet for each other with ease. They're both sleeping as I type, and have been for a while. Poor Chloe could hardly hold herself up d/t fatigue while she was getting sick. Eva just coughed up a little bit and is looking hardly touched again. Two birds with one stone and we might just clear the house by the time my mom gets out here. Whew.
On to why we were ready to risk taking tired kids out to eat with us.... My OB appt today was more than frustrating. I get there 5 min before my appt. Someone else got there right before, seeing the same Dr, with an appt 15 min after me. Who got called back first? SHE DID. I was called back 5 min after her appointment would have been. INTERESTING. Then, the nurse decided to walk me all the way back to the room, passing scale and restroom, so I could ''set my things down" before turning around and retracing steps to use the restroom- (my little teeny purse was really weighing me down... pickin' up what I'm puttin down? ) I'm not even going to go into how clean/not clean I've felt in these bathrooms. After I do my thing there, the nurse makes me move my huuuuge purse so we can go across the hallway (apparently the room hadn't' been vacated when she wanted to place me there before) . "You look tired," she said as she slides the scale up and up and... up. Then, I actually got a reading on my blood pressure this time (last time she ignored me and just left the room-with my chart). "Down to my waist". That's it. Great... these things are hardly big enough to cover any real pregnant person I dare say. At least they could point my tush away from the opening door so I can watch them come in from a different angle than thinking, "Hey, hope you don't mind seeing a little bum today". Then, Dr said I could be delivering closer to the 16th of October. I'm only dialated to "maybe a 1" as versus "not really dialated" last week from the other Dr.. ( I love this practices specifics- REALLY. C'MON!) If these Dr's looked at my records *they refuse to request them and the other practice refuses to give them without specific request from my practice* they would realize that's something my body almost refuses to do. My words alone are hardly taken with any seriousness. The Dr's have made it clear that "each pregnancy is different". Uh-huh. To a point. Then, apparently two appointments in a week and you've progressed two weeks! Next week is supposed to be a 38 week appointment which I had today, so next week is 39... But- yet I'm on track for the 16th of October, as well as the range they gave me from the 10-16th. AND, the lady refused to schedule me on my actual 39th week b/c of "Dr's orders" although he is not even going to be there and apparently it was "really tough getting me on the schedule." I'll make it easy on them. Cancel the darned appointment, give me my records, and I'll see some OB in the L and D room. Oh..... the emotional roller coaster. I was looking forward to an evening to just be with my hubby, (see last post) before I'm home bound for a while with a newborn on my um... hip.
And on top of two birds sick with the flu, and me angry and hormonal, poor B. Poor Poor B. I have not stopped getting little pings to big pings of contractions for almost 3 hours now and haven't been able to feel uncrampy all day. Back rub, hun?

A job well done!

Ok... I know I've been around kids without a break too long when....
I was blowing my nose this afternoon and after one big productive blow I said to myself, "Ooo, goood job!"
Mortified, I thought to myself "I've got to get out before this baby comes or I'm sooo done!"
Today was the last day of teaching joy school for the next month, and I was also watching a 2 yr. old. So, I have gotten used to praising and praising quickly- apparently. At least I know I can blow my nose really well!!

Ok, I'll Admit this ONE thing...

Ok. So this morning at 4am I finally admitted to myself that sleep was definitely going to be an overrated thing for me today. I got up, and just started my day. Unloaded some dishes, and loaded another load of dishes while contemplating how people are supposed to get these bursts of energy. To me, I love to clean because it de-stresses me. I wiped down counters, started a new load of laundry, and took back some laundry I'd done, to our bedroom. Seeing the dresser in its location (one side of the closet) reminded me I wanted it to be moved to the other side of the closet so we could put the bassinet in there for a little while. "Well, I can do that," I thought. I started organizing drawers as I removed them, cleaning up tossed shoes and billions of wire hangers B brings home from work. Then, I moved the dresser. "Well, this might be considered nesting but it's more like something that just needed to get done," I said to myself. Mind you its 430 in the morning right now, and Brian is hitting the snooze TRYING to sleep through all of this and calling for me to come to bed. "I just can't sleep." I reassured him. So, off I go, scooting the dresser, turning it around (this is all done in this immense hallway called our walk in closet) and scooting it into place. It felt great! That undone 'thing' had bothered me every time I had put clothes away. Now, the bassinet could be on one side, and all of our stuff on the other. Happiness. Right? Not quite. Brian had given up by this time and just getting out the shower, ready to head into work early today. (I wonder why? lol) I gathered together clothes for him so he could just get dressed SO smoothly, peeked in and said cheerfully, "Happy first day of fall and GOOD MORNING!" I can't recall his reaction, but I know he wasn't as excited about life right then as I was. It's 5am now, and what do I do? The only thing that makes sense to me as I know it right now. Finish the closet job by putting the bassinet in there. First, I have to vacuum the floor because of course ' who would want to clean something ONLY half way? This floor hadn't been vacuumed because it was covered by the dresser. Just think of the nasty things that could be in this carpet. ' So, I spray it down with some oil called Thieves from Young Living, and then ran to the closet and got WHAT out? THE VACUUM. Passing the girls room, I thought- "Ok. So, maybe I'm a little energetic and nesty this morning. What ELSE is there do though?" Until I turned on the vacuum and anal retentively cleaned that closet, I thought it was normal. Then, I passed the girls quiet room and dragged out the bassinet from the baby room - dragged it all the way through the house into the closet. Set it into place with big wide excited eyes and stood back to admire the sheer beauty of a job well done. Coming upon my acceptance of being a crazy prego this morning, I mentioned this mornings thoughts to B who said, "HECK YA, YOU'RE NESTING!! Just tell me now. Is this baby coming today or WHAT?" I chuckled a little bit. On top of all this, the poor guy was being gassed out by whatever I ate (not to gross anyone out but if you've been pregnant you know how this goes). I hesitate to think of what tonight might bring. A cleaned out garage or something? How crazy! LOL. I'll have to post a pic of this for keepsakes!

Me? Stressed?

What is sooo wrong with this picture? A completely stressed out massage therapist. Right..?? I think I am such a good massage therapist actually BECAUSE I can't do stress well. I thrive on relaxation and cleansing, and the whole bit! I just can't ever to remember to take care of myself while I'm helping those around me. The last little while, sooo much has happened in our family - near and far, within my nuclear family, and myself. And at the same time so much is NOT happening like I would like it to, and yet at the SAME time I have so much YET to 'come to pass'. Stress has just accumulated without resolve, I suppose. So, realizing sadly in the last few days that it will literally destroy me if I just 'keep on truckin' I'm trying to let go....
Yesterday, I got my hair highlights touched up because I wasn't completely satisfied, and it went splendidly. Then, Brian took me out to dinner- and I got my favorite meal (French Toast)-- high maintenance there, right? It went wonderfully.. And, I didn't even touch the kitchen sink. Just made sure the dishes got to the sink and rinsed.
And today - hubby actually got the initiative to clean up the garage.. it is far from finished, but he worked so hard on it today. Things got done today - and I didn't have to stress. It was almost happening more easily than when I'm 'in charge'. Wierd. But WONDERFUL!! We even made it out to see the horses we used to live next door to. They are moving, and we went to say our goodbye's to the horsies. Eva will miss them a lot because she repeatedly wants to dream of "Meg"- the owner of all the horses. I got the baby bassinet put together, the guest bed put together, Gabe's clothes hung up and put away in his new closet/diaper changing table... and the rest of the house stayed put together. The kids hardly touched their toys today because they wanted to help with cleaning and organizing so much. SWEEET! I'm still trying to push things into the day - like this blog- but I think I'm getting more relaxed. I think. Of course how many of you have told me to relax in the last while - and I really did? I thought I was, but apparently- there is much work to be done on this little wondergirl.

A little Funny....

The other night, Eva and Chloe were sent to put their jammies on. Well, Chloe came out with no problem- in her princess jammies or something. Eva, on the other hand, comes out with a pillowcase over her head (which must have been accidentally put in the PJ drawer) saying "Hey - This not good. This not good." As she's wobbling around trying to stick her arms through non-existant holes, it brought a large smile to the rest of us. We had to tell her to take it off and explain that it was a pillowcase, not jammies. Oh, the funny things they do! *sigh*.

Still hangin in there!

Well, according to the magic 'wheel' every woman knows, I have 17 days left. According to history, I have 14 days left, and according to the doctors out here I have 3-4 weeks left. So - for those in wonder, I'm still prego, and getting more anxious every day. As one of Brians web things he has bookmarked off of his desktop says, "I cant eat, I cant sleep, but I can do a great impression of a beached whale!"

I also got my hair done this last weekend, so I'm ready to be picture worthy- somewhat - after the baby is born it shouldn't be so ugly. Shouldn't. And, I'm getting my toes done soon, because I'll be darned if I go into labor without having my hair and toes done. Call me vain, but when all the rest of me looks beaten into pulp, swollen, and saggy -these things can help me look a little more presentable. And when I'm getting up every 3 hours, I'll be able to look down at my toes and think, "Beautiful little toes!"

Chloe is starting to tell me "I can't bend over today, either." This is in response to me saying this throughout the day- asking them to get things off of the floor for me. I just say - "oh no. we're both broken!" She just smiles and moves on. We've also had the question come up "How do the babies come out of your belly?" I've told her "The Doctor takes it out,' 'Heavenly Father made a special space for babies to come out', and 'We'll talk about it when you're older." Nothing sticks apparently, so I'll take the easy way out on this.

There's Somethin' in the Water out West...

Have you ever seen the play Unspoken Song? It's freakin' amazing. I saw it - must be like 12 years ago at least, and I still remember the fun it was. Anyways, we just got our water bill with a semi-annual report of what IS in the water out here.
All I knew up to this point was that there were floaties in the water. If you get lots of ice and a straw it won't bother you. It didn't taste that off to me, but I'm no water QC person. I also knew that I watered my plants and the soil was turning orange (since we've been in the city), and my ice dispenser tray has the same familiar orangey film with a white thick film. I'd seen this white film in cups that you leave out all day and it makes a mineral-like ring around the inside of your cup. All that means is that you have to keep drinking. Oh-- and I knew that almost no one out here drinks water right from the tap. Ok... knowing that, we'll move on.
The report really shocked me, and now I teeter between buying the purified water and using what the city has prepared... Let me tell you that we're maxed out on like 3 different things, and chlorine actually wasn't one of them. Max levels of minerals, and something else that explained the red tint to the water remains. Then, the radioactivity levels were max but 'were being retested'. That makes you feel great, doesn't it? MAN! SOMETHIN' in the water out here, that's for DARN SURE!
I lost the stats, but I'll have to find them and post them in here, because it was just depressing. Although, I haven't paid much attention to any body elses' water other Rossford, Ohio.
Anyone else have wierd water?

"You're dirty enough now, Eva." Chloe said. Eva was very proud of herself for gettting dirty. She's happy when Chloe's proud of her.

"Touch me! Touch me!" *squeals of giggles*

So, today - thanks to the finger painting experience the girls had a little over a week ago at a friends house- I whipped out some finger paints and let the girls have at 'em. Chloe was hesitant a week ago to get her fingers dirty and asked for a paintbrush. "oh no!" I had said to my friend. This 'problem' had to stop. My little Chloe was the one with the dirty garden hands, the gooey gluey hands and loving to get her hands into things. Being out here in a brown, not friendly environment, and having rental houses has put quite a halt to those fun things. However, I am learning it just needs to be done, with caution. So, with caution I embarked, and with enthusiasm they accepted it! I wish I could just get a garden going now or some real flowers outside!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Toes

Dance class starts this Friday for the girls. We are sooo excited. There is a family who has a few daughters who love ballet and dance so much that they are willing to teach out of their house, and at waaay affordable rates. We will see how the girls do. They have a class together at 9 in the morning, I think. I'm hoping that they'll be so super ready to jump out of the car and just dance until thier little hearts. This is a video of the girls getting 'ready' for dance class. Chloe picked out her skirt. Daddy bought them the dance outfits when we told them about the dance class.
Chloe has always had a thing for dance, and we're super excited for her wiggly body to learn some appropriate moves. As some may know, she's got quite the hip swingin' booty shakin' dance moves that are just -- not as appropriate as ballet twirls and pirouettes. She's been watching the Barbie Nutcracker movie and dancing along with the various characters. I'm really hoping she'll like it as much as she thinks she will.
Eva has danced, and has the skinniest little wirey frame I've ever seen- so seeing her in a leotard is a little scary. Her ribs are the only thing the poor suit can cling to! She'll dance with Chloe and usually has a 'head bob' going on during songs. She's definitely a more laid back individual with not as crazy moves-- yet. She has always been the pink, sparkly, diva. "Diva Rose" we call her. For good reason.
What little ladies!

So it begins...

Let the madness begin!! Or should I say, joy? We started Joy School yesterday, complete with name tags, rules, and portfolio pictures. Joy School is a preschoolers program where moms team up to teach their kids values, and the joy of learning. Its two days a week, for 2.5 hours each We'll do The Joy of our bodies this month, and another month is the Joy of Goal Setting. I still do my own preschool with the girls the other days of the week teaching letters, math and science. This is a program that will last until the spring, when I'll buy another season, and do it some more (hopefully). So far the class consists of my two girls and one boy.
The positive in this structured program is that it has definately made me structure the other times of the day, and get back on the band wagon with reading to the girls before bedtime, making a craft every day-- things like I used to do when I had energy. I have been running out of that lately, but somehow preterm labor issues makes you learn to get back to basics so you don't lose sanity on bedrest. I'm not on bedrest though. I don't think they really do that out here. I just got some medicine to make me feel almost worse than anxiety associated with preterm babies.